President William Ruto has defended the frequency of his recent foreign travels, saying that international engagement is a key part of his responsibilities as Kenya's president and chief diplomat.

Speaking about his visits to several countries in Europe, Ruto explained that some negotiations and agreements can only be handled at the presidential level and are therefore part of his performance targets, which he referred to as his KPIs.The president highlighted his visit to Brussels, where he discussed Kenya's Economic Partnership Agreement with European partners.

According to Ruto, the discussions were aimed at ensuring the agreement remains stable and beneficial for Kenya while also encouraging wider participation from other East African Community member states.He said these efforts are intended to prevent future challenges when the agreement is expanded in the coming years.Ruto also revealed that he held talks with the European Union on data adequacy and technology cooperation.He described technology and data governance as critical areas for Kenya's future development.

The president stated that Kenya and the EU had reached an understanding that could lead to a formal framework being presented to the European Parliament by September.If approved, he said, the arrangement could strengthen Kenya's standing in digital trade and technology partnerships.In addition, Ruto discussed his recent trip to Norway, where he sought opportunities for Kenyans in the shipping sector.He noted that many major shipping companies are based in Norway and argued that Kenya has not fully utilised the economic potential of its coastline.

He linked these efforts to the government's Blue Economy agenda, saying that revenues from the sector could grow significantly, from about KSh 20 billion to KSh 120 billion, if the right investments and policies are implemented.